SMALL FRUIT UPDATE | WEEK 41 |
OCTOBER 6, 2021
WHAT'S INSIDE Guest Commentary by Claire Luby, USDA-ARS
Blueberry Breeder
INDUSTRY RESOURCES
I am thrilled to be starting as the blueberry breeder with the USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Unit
in Corvallis, OR. I’ve spent the first couple of months in this position out in the field walking seedlings,
GROWER RESOURCES learning the advanced selections and parents in the program, continuing on-going research projects, and
determining how to build the program moving forward. As we move into the fall, I look forward to meeting
INDUSTRY NEWS with more growers and stakeholders to continue learning about the needs of the blueberry industry to
better focus my research and plant breeding efforts. I plan to attend Oregon and Washington blueberry
commission and research meetings, the Washington Small Fruit Conference, and the Northwest Center
PEST MANAGEMENT
for Small Fruit Research conference throughout the fall and winter. I hope to meet many of you there!
SFU SPONSORS One of the first areas that I am focusing on is figuring out how to set up larger trials through nurseries
and growers to obtain more information from different locations to determine which to release as
cultivars. There are a lot of great selections that have been identified from the breeding program,
however, we don’t have the information that we need to know if they are ready to be released. We
currently do not have plants in quantities that are ready to be distributed for larger trials. This will take
some time to set up as we work on ramping up tissue culture and plant production of selections from the
breeding program and determine a system for collecting data and information from many different field
sites. I’m excited about the potential of several of these selections and look forward to seeing how they
perform on larger scales and in the varied growing regions in the Pacific Northwest.
In addition to working on getting current selections out into trials, I’m learning the needs of the blueberry
industry for new cultivars and research projects. For example, the heat dome event happened about a
week after I started in this position. Our advanced selection field at the North Willamette research station
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was hit quite hard by this event. We did observe significant differences among cultivars and advanced
selections, so we now have information on variation in heat tolerance to inform breeding moving forward.
In addition, we have a heat tolerance study already growing in four different areas of Oregon and
Small Fruit Update is
Washington. This research project will also provide more information on important traits for heat
produced once a week
tolerance in blueberry.
during the growing
season and bimonthly Another project that we have started in the program is testing advanced selections for machine
outside the growing harvestability for fresh market through drop-testing and firmness testing of berries. We are also
season (Oct - Feb) implementing cold storage testing to identify selections that maintain quality even after long periods in
storage. We plan to continue these studies and integrate them as part of the selection process moving
forward. In the longer term, I’m also interested in studying and selecting for water and nutrient use
efficiency, and tolerance to diseases. I welcome other ideas and feedback from stakeholders on priorities
for breeding and research.
Claire Luby
[email protected]
Industry News
NBF and Tom Recovery Fund Update:
I wanted to start by thanking all of our generous donors for giving to our
fundraiser. As of Oct. 4th, there has been over $1,300 donated to this cause!
Thank you! Tom is grateful and touched by all the well wishes and support from
our community.
Help us support Tom and the NBF in reporting on small fruit news by contributing
to our fundraiser.
LEARN MORE
Blueberry Pollination Survey
The survey is part of a USDA NIFA-funded project to improve blueberry pollination. Though this
survey, we are trying to get a better picture of pollination practices. Whether a grower has 1 or
1000 acres, having their input is important. Furthermore, respondents from each state will be
entered in a raffle to win a $50 gift certificate.
COMPLETE SURVEY
Job Opportunities
OSU Endowed Professorship for Northwest Berry Production and Management position now open
(Bernadine Strik retires at the end of Dec. 2021). Application deadline is Nov. 10th. See job posting
for more information
VIEW JOB POSTING
NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 02
Regional Monitoring
September 30, 2021
VIEW FULL REPORT SIGN UP HERE
REGIONAL MONITORING
Welcome to this edition of the Agragene Regional SWD Report! As we barrel into fall, and any illusions of a
perpetual summer are shattered by quick turn to rainy and cool weather, we have a lot of interesting things
going on with the SWD population to talk about.
Harvest is complete for all but the few brave acres of extreme late season fruit. As such, you may be
wondering why should I care about SWD right now? The simple answer is that what is happening now is an
very important stage and influx point for SWD that has tremendous implications for the potential of SWD
populations next season. Just as the cool rainy weather has shifted the day to day work on the farm to focus
more on the tasks that need to be completed before winter, it has also elicited a biological imperative in the
SWD population telling them that they must breed and feed as much as possible to survive the winter
months. We see numbers spiking in the past few weeks which reflects this. If environmental conditions are
favorable for a long time, and potential hosts remain abundant, we can see a massive population go into the
winter with the potential to create a high pest pressure season in 2022. Conversely, if this population is
unable to grow in significant numbers, we can have high hopes for a lower pressure year again 2022.
Location Total SWD
SAUV I E I S LAND 306
BANK S 110
FORE S T GROVE 45
CORN E L I US 155
HILL S B O RO 75
YAMH I L L 12
DUND E E 161
MCMI N N V ILLE 211
WILS O N V ILLE 43
NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 03
FEATURED LINKS
USDA Announces $3 billion investment in agriculture, animal health, and nutrition; unveils new climate partnership
initiative, requests public input. (9/29, USDA release)
$650 million soon available for small scale farmers, farmers market, and food producers (9/28, NACT)
Overview of consumer shopping trends (9/30, Fresh Plaza)
LOGISTICS
Air Canada begins work to enhance cold chain handling capabilities at its Toronto Pearson Cargo facility READ MORE
(10/4, Fresh Plaza)
Global shipping problems will not improve before the end of October READ MORE
(10/4, Fresh Plaza)
TECHNOLOGY
Partnership provides weigh-fill machines for US and Mexican blueberry industry READ MORE
(9/30, Fresh Plaza)
Energy-efficient raspberry cultivation in the winter? READ MORE
(9/30, Fresh Plaza)
A coverage of merely 90 microns throughout two strawberry tree campaigns READ MORE
(9/28, Fresh Plaza)
MARKET
There is only one direction for blueberry consumption: up READ MORE
(10/2, Fresh Plaza)
Rabobank takes a look into the future of the blueberry market READ MORE
(9/30, Fruit Growers News)
Naturipe’s import blueberries peak is early and strong this season READ MORE
(10/1, Fruit Growers News)
NORTH AMERICA
Steep jump in Mexican raspberry production READ MORE
(10/5, Fresh Plaza)
SOUTH AMERICA
Import blueberries from Peru peak early this season READ MORE
(10/4, Fresh Plaza)
Improvements in the blueberry pre-shipment program for export to the US READ MORE
(10/1, Blueberries Consulting)
U.S Mexico Canada Agreement seasonal perishable products - weekly update READ MORE
(10/4, Fresh Plaza)
NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 04
EUROPE
Serbian blueberry production and export on the rise READ MORE
(10/1, Fresh Plaza)
How self-sufficient is the UK, fruit and vegetable-wise? READ MORE
(10/4, Fresh Plaza)
Raspberries gaining popularity in the Netherlands READ MORE
(9/30, Fresh Plaza)
Strawberries and blueberries regain momentum in Huelva READ MORE
(10/5, Fresh Plaza)
FOOD SAFETY
U.S. officials work on development of international food safety and commodity standards READ MORE
(10/4, Fresh Plaza)
NIFA invests $10M for food safety outreach, training and education READ MORE
(9/29, Fruit Growers News)
LABOR
Washington can’t find any U.S. workers for H-2A farm jobs READ MORE
(9/29, Capital Press)
NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 05
Industry Calendar
OCTOBER 2021
Oregon Strawberry Commission Meeting
06
IN PERSON: HAYDEN’S BAR AND GRILL 8187 SW TUALATIN-SHERWOOD RD, TUALATIN, OR 97062 OR CONFERENCE CALL:832-831-
2424 PIN 203689
WA Blueberry Research Review
14
IN PERSON WSU MT VERNON RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER 9 AM WITH A VIRTUAL OPTION. ZOOM LINK:
HTTPS://US02WEB.ZOOM.US/J/6174037279. EMAIL ALAN SCHREIBER FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. VIEW AGENDA HERE
15 & 18
WRRC hybrid in person/virtual research reviews
TO RSVP FOR ANY RESEARCH SESSION, EMAIL HENRY BEIRLINK
Washington Blueberry Commission Meeting
20
10AM AND WILL BE IN PERSON MEETING IN YAKIMA, WA WITH A POTENTIAL VIRTUAL OPTION. PLEASE CALL 509.266.4300 FOR
MEETING INFORMATION
20 - 21
BC Blueberry, Raspberry, and Strawberry Research Review
FURTHER DETAILS TBA
21 & 22
BC Berries Research Review webinar
REGISTER HERE
Oregon Blueberry Commission Meeting
25
ZOOM MEETING: 8:30AM. EMAIL THE OBC OFFICE FOR ZOOM RSVP LINK
DECEMBER 2021
2021 NCSFR Conference
13 - 15
TO BOOK A HOTEL ROOM, CLICK HERE. MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT ELISA
FORD AT [email protected]
JANUARY 2022
PNWIMC Conference
10 - 11
VIRTUAL EVENT. DETAILS TBA
The Small Fruit Update is published by the Northwest Berry Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit. Our mission is to support the northwest small fruit
industry through education, research and information access. The SFU is made possible through the generosity of our sponsors and readers like you. Donate
today, and together we can help our berry growing community thrive.
Thank you for your support!
DONATE NOW
NWBERRYFOUNDATION.ORG PAGE 06
THE SMALL FRUIT UPDATE
WEEK 41 | OCTOBER 6, 2021
This is the sole industry publication, For more information or requests please
gathering grower and producer news, contact:
and regional field reports to unite,
stabilize, and strengthen the Northwest Abby Gearing,
berry growing region (Canada and US). SFU Designer & Editor
[email protected]
Production is independent of
government and commercial control Tom Peerbolt,
and made possible by the following NBF Director & Editor
commission & councils. [email protected].
